by A. W. Cross
He quickly grabbed the cloth napkins from the table and tried his best to clean of his pant leg, apologizing over and over.
“It’s fine,” the general said, trying to help him up, but he wouldn’t listen, and as he shook his leg away from him, I saw the glint of something revealed under the cloth. The server gasped slightly and looked up at him. I watched their interaction, and he said again, “It’s fine, really,” and glanced in my direction, but I maintained a straight face. I had recalled the conversations from earlier, and how some people saw artificial limbs as ungodly.
I couldn’t be certain but was the general hiding an artificial limb of his own, and I didn’t see it as my place to say anything. After all, it seemed like such a personal matter. I was intrigued though, and when the time was right, I would ask him about it. I had to, I had to know if what I thought I’d saw was real. More importantly, I wanted to know where the military stood on the matter. Truly, stood on the matter. Not just some empty PR propaganda.
Two other servers hurried to our side, and he tucked his leg carefully under the table, giving me a sideways look to gage my reaction. I ignored it, pretending I had seen nothing, and continued to sip the leftover wine in my glass, until someone else returned with a fresh bottle. My father had no idea what had taken place and seemed in good spirits as they continued to discuss the business with the Horologium. I wondered just how much my father knew about artificial parts. I’d be sure to discuss it with him later.
The mess was cleaned up, and dessert was delivered to our table, but I was preoccupied in thoughts with artificial limbs, magic grimoires, and what other possible things might be hidden in plain sight in Albercadia.
7
“Can I be completely honest with you, father?" I said, hands on hips, fuming inside.
"I don't get the impression you are really asking me permission."
"You're right. I'm not. What were you thinking to invite Dominic de Pierre?"
He smiled while returning to the chase he'd taken to earlier that evening. "My darling, Lily. I'd already heard what the government had to offer. The officers coming here this evening was less a formality, a celebratory dinner, of sorts. Sir Dominic's unexpected appearance only validated one thing for me. He has moles planted throughout the city and informants within the ranks of the Inventors Society and the expo. He wasn't honest with me about his true interest in the Horologium. He came across as more or less as a hobbyist rather than a serious investor. That was when I realized there were deeper ulterior motives at play. Sinister behaviors I'm not willing to align with. And based on his grandiose entrance this evening, he's everything I do not want in a partner."
I sat back contemplating every word my father spoke. All along I'd thought him a fan of Dominic, maybe even caught up in all the glamor.
How could I have been so daft?
"Father, I'm sorry. I can't believe I allowed myself to question your rationale."
He let out a loud yawn and placed his hands over his round belly. "No need to apologize to me dear. I didn't want to say anything too soon; in the off chance my suspicions were wrong. Besides, it was best you made your own judgments about Sir Dominic."
"I'll tell you what I think about that narcissistic."
"Lily?" He warned.
"Sorry, father. I don't like Dominic. He gives me this eerie vibe."
"Well, you won't have to worry about him and I spending too much time together. General Jensen will be by tomorrow morning with the contract for me to review. I've asked Mr. LaBaron and his lovely wife Bernice to join us for brunch, and so he can help me review the contract. Outside of being an investor, he's also one of the city's top lawyers. He specializes in these matters and he's who I want representing my interests."
"Oh? Now there is something I didn't expect." I smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing them all. Why don't we both get some rest? Tomorrow is working out to be a very important day. Also, dad?" I waited to have his full attention. "The Horologium. Why don't we put it in the safe in my room?"
"The safe?" He laughed. "Why would we do that?"
"I don't know. I've just had this urgent need to keep it safe since we arrived here in Albercadia. Will you please just appease me? After all, tomorrow it will have a new home, behind iron walls, I'd assume."
"Iron walls? Child, you are really letting your imagination get the best of you. But if it will help you sleep better than, take it."
I rushed to my father's room and collected the clock from the nightstand. It was in its case. Carefully, I opened it just to make sure it was in there.
"Father!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I heard a big thump on the ground and rustling in my direction.
"What is it, Lilian? Are you hurt?"
I turned the case in his direction. "Where is it?"
His eyes darted around the room. "Impossible. It was in there. I can assure you as much. I saw it for myself shortly after I'd arrived from the conference."
We both scrambled about, stepping over each other.
Up, down, over, under... we looked everywhere and came up empty-handed.
"Someone stole it." Was the only conclusion I'd reached.
"But who?" he said reaching for the telephone ringing the front desk. "I need to speak to Alistair, please. It is urgent." He hung up the phone and paced the length of his bedroom.
"Father, it means either General Jensen and the officers, or Dominic and his two guests are to blame."
The chime of the elevator startled me, as I followed my father in its direction, waiting to see who was coming up.
"General Jensen?"
He was carrying something in a brown paper bag.
"The Horologium. It would appear one of Sir Dominic's friends was trying to steal it. We've already taken him into custody. Sir Dominic sends his apologies. he is truly embarrassed by his acquaintance's actions."
"That easy, huh?" I said ripping the clock out of his hands, quickly checking it for damage. "I hope this person is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. He comes into what we consider our temporary home, uninvited I might add, and steals from us? And what, Sir Dominic is sincerely sorry? I'm not buying it. Those men entered here with one mission in mind." I said waiting for my father to react, yet he said nothing. "Father?"
"Yes, Lilian. I get it. You are upset. You don't like Sir Dominic. You've had your feelings about him. And I agree, you've been right. But the Horologium is back in our possession. And while all of this is unacceptable, I have faith in that General Jensen and his men are going to handle this matter as discreetly and promptly as possible. We can't draw any more attention to the Horologium than already has been."
I felt as if I'd been sucked into a massive time warp, where nothing was what it was supposed to be.
"Yes, father," I said through clenched teeth, balled fist at my side as I walked away to return the clock to its case. I heard General Jensen and my father discussing the coordination of removing the clock from our care in the morning.
I pressed the case to my chest, hugging it while I returned to my room, shutting the door for the night. In the beautiful lacquer finished armoire with bronze trimmings was a safe. I turned the knobs in the needed directions and waited to hear and feel the click under my fingertips then placed the case onto the velvety bottom and reclosing the safe.
When I turned back toward my room, I saw the book, waiting patiently, as if asking, are you ready?
How could I forget what had happened there earlier?
I reached over to retrieve the grimoire, and nothing happened. Thankfully.
You are going into my bag, I said, grabbing for my distressed leather saddle bag. It'd seen better days, but it was just as functional as it had always been. I secured the straps and place it too in the armoire and moved to wash up for the night. It'd been a long day; I was ready to sleep.
Visions of people in distress popped in and out of my consciousness. Babies whaling with missing limbs, mothers desperately trying to soothe th
em. Fathers pleading with darkly cloaked men to help.
My heart raced trying to figure out where I was, to no avail.
A little girl dragged herself to me. "Miss, will you help me?"
Her big blue eyes stared up to me as she adjusted her legless body.
"I need water, but I can't reach the carafe."
"Oh! I can help you." I said moving toward a table. Only the vision was gone, and I slipped into another.
This time we were on a battlefield and I ran to take cover behind a line of sandbags. Rows of soldiers lined up behind the sandbags, loading, and shooting.
The continuous loud sounds made me panic as I threw my hands over my ears.
"Miss! A hand over here please!" A soldier called. "I need you to open that pack and take the syringe, fill it with the liquid from the brown bottle and shoot it in his stomach."
My eyes remained fixed on the young man as he shouted the instructions. I was frozen in place. "Miss! Please, otherwise we will lose him."
Quickly I sprang into action, following his lead. When I gave the man the injection, the soldier gave me new instructions. "There's a tourniquet in that bag, bring it over to his arm."
I did just that. "What are you going to do?" I inquired.
"We have to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, we'll lose him. Instead, he'll lose his arm."
I jumped back at the realization that this soldier was about to lose a limb.
Quickly the vision shifted, this time I was in a room full of finely dressed people. Some I recognized from Dominic's party. In the distance, I saw Bernice and Cloe, only they didn't look happy. In fact, they looked every bit terrified. I moved quickly in their direction listening to the murmurings of the folks I was passing.
"Did you see her leg?"
"What was that?"
"Its pure evil I tell you. Evil!"
I tried to follow their line of sight, but there simply were too many people. When I finally reached Bernice and Cloe, both women threw their arms around me. "Oh, dear Lily. So glad you are safe. So much chaos. Whatever shall we do?"
"Chaos?" I said. "What is going on?"
Cloe pointed toward the center of the room were in the opening a young woman sat sobbing into her hands. I couldn't tell what had upset her. At least until I looked further down.
Her leg. She was wearing some type of prosthetic mechanical leg.
Brilliant! I thought. But it would appear I was the only one who felt that way. Everyone around us was afraid. Well, everyone, I thought, except for General Jensen, whose eyes were fixated on me.
8
Brunch was set in a private dining room in the main restaurant of the hotel. The glass windows gave life to everything in sight, while the electric powered lanterns acted merely as decoration in the innovated space.
Steel piping for the legs and frame of a grand black lacquer wood table, and matching chairs. A colossal mirror framed with the same worn steel piping covered the entire opposite wall, with built-in sconces of rusty looking dragons wrapped around the hurricane glass.
The staff rolled in with long carts filled with all sorts of delicious food. The women dressed in the dark brown ruffled skirts, white ruffled high collar shirts, and brown leather vests. The men the same, only pants in place of skirts.
There was something exciting about the way they executed their tasks, rolling the carts in synchronization, moving so that the women's skirts looked to be flowing in the same direction at precisely the same time.
"So, Lily, what have you been up to since we last visited?"
Cloe had joined Bernice and Samuel, which was amazing since I truly wanted to get to know her better.
"Not much. Thankful the expo is finally over so we can get about looking for proper living accommodations."
"Oh!" She said with a major smile spread across her face. "There is a home for rent on my same street."
My heart was happy that she took an interest.
"That's great. But I doubt we can afford to live anywhere remotely near where you do. After all, you are nobility." I smiled.
"Nonsense." She replied. "In fact, I'm sure we can help you and your father procure the place at a great price."
"Trust when I say this, Lily, Cloe gets what she wants," Bernice said through a boisterous laugh before tossing back a drink of illegal liquor my father had smuggled across the ocean.
"It's true," Cloe replied quite proud of herself. "My dear husband is always busy and traveling, that he spoils me more than necessary. You see, we own the property of topic." She winked and took a chug of the whiskey. "Oh! that is good. Strong, but good. We'll have to get more of this, Mr. Anderson."
My father eagerly responded. "Well, now that I'll be working for the government, I don't know that I'll be in a position to coordinate such tasks."
We all turned to General Jensen who'd been quietly indulging the conversation.
"Don't look at me? I know nothing," he said through childlike eyes, causing us all to laugh.
"Why don't you have some?" Bernice asked.
"My dear." Samuel chimed in. "We men are here on official business. It would be highly inappropriate for any of us to consume any type of liquor while we are in the process of negotiating a contract. Especially a government contract."
"Very well then, you killjoy." She said hardly able to contain herself.
While my father and the other two gentlemen returned their focus to the contract, Cloe, Bernice and I, grabbed our plates and walked out onto the balcony.
"Another dreadful lonely day. I'm so glad you ladies allowed me to join you. I get so bored at home. There is only so much I can do before I drive myself absolutely insane."
I looked at Cloe, really looked at her for the first time. "How long have you been married?"
"Two years."
"Oh!"
"Don't go on feeling so sorry for her just yet, Miss Lily. Cloe could be traveling with her husband, but she chooses not to."
"Why is that, if you don't mind me asking."
Cloe pushed her plate to the side, leaned back into the chair and looked beyond me into the open blue sky.
"Everyone will be expecting me to get pregnant right away and I just don't know that I'm ready for that. I mean, I know what is expected of me, but my husband already has two beautiful children from his first wife, and I don't feel right trying to bring another baby into the fold that will distract him from his kids."
Bernice reached out and placed her hand over mine. "Marquis del Castillo widowed."
I had no idea how to reply to that.
"He's an absolutely great man, husband, father. But there are so many things I've yet to understand about him. He's rather private regarding his emotional wellbeing, and while I try not to pressure, I also feel like I'm missing something rather in my face. The children, I love them dearly and they love me too. But there is this wall with him which I haven't been able to bring down. The children sense it too. Traveling with him became a bit too much. Constantly questioning whether I was good enough. Almost jealous of a woman who is no longer among us." She looked me straight in the eyes. "How sad is that?"
I took a deep breath. While I couldn't understand her pain, I had some inclination into the life of a man living without the woman he truly loved.
"I don't know your husband nor am I going to pretend to understand the inner workings of your relationship. But I can tell you, just from watching as my dad moves about life without my mother, maybe you need to invite the memory of her into the conversation?" She pierced at me through skeptical eyes. "What I mean is, talk about her. Talk to him about what it was like when she was around. What it was like to love her and be loved by her. Allow him to bring his guard down. Remember, he lost the first love of his life, the mother of his children. And while that does not mean there is no space there for you, it just means it is a different kind of love. A more mature love."
She nodded and looked away.
"I hope I didn't offend you, Cloe."
"Not at all," she said without looking at me. "Just something to consider."
"Well, I think that is very sound advice, dear," Bernice said hoping to get Cloe to turn. She didn't.
The door opened and out walked the gentlemen.
"Bad timing?" Samuel asked.
"Not at all, dear. Come, join us taking in this gorgeous view. Before it gets too hot out here." Bernice said tapping the seat next to her.
My father sat to Cloe's left, doing a double take, presumably noticing that she was upset. I eyed him to leave her be.
"Miss Lily, do you mind?" The general asked hand pointing toward the seat next to me.
I nodded.
"So, what is everyone up to this weekend? Bernice and I are planning to be at our country home, just an hour ride outside of the city. We'd love to open it up to everyone and enjoy a good time with great food, music, and relaxation. We have the most wonderful outdoor spaces for all sorts of pleasures."
"That would be wonderful. Don't you think my dear Lily?' My father asked.
"I'd love that."
"How about you, General Jensen?"
"Mr. and Mrs. LaBaron, I'd be honored."
Bernice cleared her throat, her tone a tad more composed. "How about you, Cloe. Would you like to join us?"
I could see Cloe's chest rise taking in a deep breath as she turned to Bernice, a warm smile spread across her face. "I'd love that very much."
"Then it is settled," Samuel clamored. "We will enjoy the weekend in the company of our new and dear friends. I'll ensure transportation is available to you and Drew and Miss Lily. General, would you mind sharing a ride with the Anderson's?"
"Not at all." He smiled.
"Great! Cloe, you can come with us. As I'm sure Bernice will need the company while I focus on a few business matters before we start the weekend."
9